//------------------------------// // VIII: You Were Only Waiting for This Moment to Arrive // Story: Kind Hearts & Coronets // by Shinzakura //------------------------------// “So are you really sure about this, Sky?” Rarity asked. The pegasus nodded. “As sure as I’m ever gonna be,” she said with a smile. “I mean, don’t get me wrong, Rares, I love living here with you and Diamond and she doesn’t borrow my stuff too often….” “I’ll speak with her on that,” Rarity sighed, taking a drink from her tea. “She’s just a teen, Rares, I don’t mind,” Sky replied. “In any case, it’s an opportunity to study overseas in Saddle Arabia for a couple of years, and I’m not the only student going. Plus, one of the stallions going, Inquisitive? He’s kinda cute, so I get the feeling I won’t exactly be alone if you get my drift.” “Yes, but do you have to leave now of all times? It’s almost Harvesttide, and I was hoping you’d at least be able to stay for that before heading off.” “Don’t worry about that – I’ll be able to do that at least with Mom and Dad before I have to leave. Besides, I’m betting my little brother will be just bursting at the seams to ask me for stuff from Saddle Arabian cities like Marekesh and Trotpoli. And I’ll be back to do my final year of college back at RCU, so no sweat there.” “I know, dear, but the house will seem very empty without you. Diamond’s going home for Harvesttide, Sweetie and Twilight are on a mage-training quest, and Silver’s unit is on an extended deployment right now – it’s been a few weeks since I’ve seen him.” She shook her head, adding, “I wish I could just head home to Ponyville for that week, but this is one of the Ministry’s busiest times of the year, so I’m stuck in town. I’d probably join Celestia, Luna, Cadance and Shining for dinner, but they’ll be hosting a state dinner in Empire City for some dignitaries from Donkonia who wish to learn more about the old Crystal Empire, so I’ll be alone in this big house, and….” Her words trailed off as the gears in her mind suddenly went into hyperdrive; a second later she sang out, “Iiiiide~a!” “Okay, when you’re singing random nouns, I know something’s about to happen,” Sky jested. “It’s been months since Mother and Father have come to visit me in Canterlot, and I think Mother would especially appreciate the visit this time of year, since she loves Harvesttide. So I’ll just let Mother know we’ll hold the Harvesttide dinner at my place this year.” A knowing look came onto Rarity’s blue eyes as she added, “Come to think of it, neither Aunt Periwinkle nor Uncle Topaz have visited you here, and I don’t think Persian Onion’s ever been to Canterlot before, right?” “Nope, Persian’s never been here – and you’re right, it’s a great idea. Let me send a note to Mom and Dad, and we can make this the best Harvesttide ever!” Sky squealed. Goldie crashed onto the ground, spent. “I can’t…I can’t do it anymore, Rainbow,” she gasped, panting for breath. Rainbow came to a gentle stop next to her squadron mate. “You can, and you will, Goldie,” Rainbow promised. “It’s part of the reason I asked for you to come back to the unit – you can do this, I know you can.” The two sat on the cliffside for the longest time before Goldie was able to catch her breath again. “Thanks, Rainbow.” “Eh, don’t worry about it. After all, it’s not often that somepony gets flying lessons from the awesomest flyer of all time!” “Apparently I’m also getting pointers on how to inflate my ego as well,” Goldie cracked. “Well, since we’re working on your flying, how’s your special talent coming along?” In response to that, Goldie held up her forehooves. They looked clean as a whistle, like nothing had happened before. “This is the result of months of Twilight and Cadance trying to heal me, Rainbow. I haven’t been able to do anything at all until now. I feel like a foal again – no, worse, because when I was a foal I knew who my friends were. I’m not even sure of that anymore!” “Hey, hey, don’t do that to yourself, okay? I’m really not good at all this encouragement stuff.” Rainbow had obviously meant that as a joke, but the golden-brown pegasus looked as though she was fit to cry. “Hey, hey, just because that jerk hurt you doesn’t mean you’re down and out, okay? You have friends – lots of them. The whole squadron! And,” she said, pointing a hoof back at herself, “you got me – and when you got me, you’ve got Loyalty for sure!” Goldie wiped away the tears that threatened to make an appearance on her face. “Did anypony ever tell you that you’re absolutely lousy at cheering ponies up?” “Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know. Well, I do know plenty of ways to cheer up ponies, but…despite what others say, I don’t swing that way, and I’m guessing neither do you. And I’m not about to even try a Cloud Kicker moment. Sorry.” Goldie just found the whole bizarreness of Rainbow’s statement to be so ludicrous, she busted out laughing. After a few seconds, she said softly, “Thanks, Rainbow. I needed that.” “Yup, just one of the ways I’m here. Now you gonna do one of your solar flares, or am I just going to sit here?” “Let’s try two at once. Give me some space.” As Rainbow politely stepped away a slight distance, Goldie looked around for something to target and found it, a lone raincloud that had somehow managed to escape the Cloudsdale cloud factory. Rearing, Goldie’s body began to burn with a golden aura usually seen on a much taller, whiter and horned pony. Beneath her hindhooves, fire began to burn, scorching the dry grass on the cliff and setting it on fire. Meanwhile, Goldie reached out with her left foreleg, as a fiery bow began to coalesce into existence. With her right foreleg, she began to pull back, a thin slash of flame appearing in the hoof. Drawing as far back as she could, she let go and the flame arrow burned forward, spearing forth like a magic blast from a unicorn’s horn. The flame arrow hit the trailing edge of the cloud, enveloping the whole thing in a pyre for a split second before it all became nothing but steam, vaporizing into nothingness. Rainbow’s eyes went wide. “Wow! That’s so AWESOME!” Goldie lowered her forelegs and sat back down, the firebow and hindflames disappearing, leaving wisps of smoke and the stench of burnt grass behind. “Not really. I was aiming for the center of the cloud. I’m out of practice. But I’m back in the game if you’ll still have me as XO, skipper.” “XO? You should be CO, Goldie. You were unit commander before I was.” “Yeah, but I’m not ready to take the reins again just yet. Give me a bit to get back into fighting shape once more, and you can bet that I’ll be back in charge again. By then, you’ll probably take command of the Wonderbolts or something.” “You got it.” Rainbow extended a hoof to bump and Goldie gladly did so. “Nope, cain’t help ya there,” the mayor of Clustermare, a dull-seeming stallion who looked as though his special talent in life was to bore ponies to death, told both Silver and Wheatstalk. “Ain’t seen nothin’ like whut ya described come this way.” “Sir, are you positive?” Wheatstalk asked. “Last couple of reports stated the group in question was headed in this direction, and that it was an army of pegasi and gryphons.” Silver let his junior assistant ask the questions while the senior officer looked at the mayor. Granted, Silver was just as graycoated as the mayor was, but he didn’t have a slightly different shade of gray for a mane, nor did he have gray eyes – or even a simple gray square for a cutie mark. Even the mayor’s name, Monochrome, indicated that he seemed to be just one living blur of bland. Though with that voice, maybe his parents should’ve named him “Monotone”, Silver mused. Monochrome looked at Wheatstalk. “Look, sonny, I don’t know the first thing ‘bout soldierin’ but I do know that there t’ain’t a single place ‘round these parts to hold an army of any kind, else we’d let your forces stay here.” Silver noted that Monochrome was right about that; the town was so small, there wasn’t even an inn for the senior cadre to set up shop in for the couple days they were running around the badlands. “Ya sure ya got that story of yours straight?” “We have it on the best intelligence, Mayor,” Silver replied, “though you’re correct in that sometimes that’s not enough. Thank you for your time, and that of your townsfolk. I know this has been a trying ordeal for your town.” “Small town like ours, only excitement we get this year,” Monochrome said with a faint smile. “Understood, sir. Well, we’ll be departing the area in the afternoon, so we’ll be out of your mane by then.” “Where y’all headed, if I can ask?” the mayor’s secretary, a small unassuming pegasus named White Sail, asked. “That way if we hear any news before you head back to Canterlot, we can get word to you.” “That’d be appreciated, ma’am,” Silver answered. “We’ll be headed down south towards Damshire for the rest of the week, then back towards Ambleville before we return back to our base of operations in Appaloosa. So if you can get word to us if something occurs, it would be appreciated.” Turning to Wheatstalk, he said, “Let’s get going.” “Roger that, sir,” the younger stallion replied as they departed town. “What’s the orders?” “Have camp broken up, then have word sent to Coronet Mudslide and have her squads continue west to Gallopsburg and Fillyvale before meeting us in Appaloosa. Then also send word to the bison tribes keeping a look out and have them run one more round if they can spare the extra hooves.” He shook his head. “Don’t know about you, but I’ll be glad to be back in Canterlot in time for Harvesttide – hoping to spend time with my girl.” “Yeah, well, lucky you, sir,” Wheatstalk grumbled. “Mom and Pop are having sis and that idiot husband of hers over for Harvesttide dinner. I swear, if Flax calls me a ‘Heavy-hooved Government Bronco’ again…pow! Right in the breadmuncher!” “Oh, you won’t have to worry about that, Corporal,” Silver grinned. “After that time Rarity and I stayed at the commune, I’m pretty sure he’s learned how to keep that tongue of his under wraps.” As the two Guardsponies departed, Monochrome breathed a sigh of relief. “That was too close, Spinnaker,” he said to “White Sail”, his voice changing from a dull tone to a deeper, bassy tone. “We appreciate everything you do for us, Mayor,” Spinnaker replied as she removed the rest of her “White Sail” disguise. “The Weather Underground never forgets its friends, and we’ll stand beside you no matter what.” “It’s my pleasure,” Monochrome said, his eyes narrowing in hate as he continued to look at the ponies that departed. “My grandfather, Wisdom Seeker, was a doddering old pony when he mistakenly joined the Army of the Nightmare a decade back, but he didn’t deserve to be murdered by the Sun Tyrant. If I can help get the smallest bit of justice for what they did to him…tell the Commandante so long as Clustermare exists, he’ll always have a friend.” “And that should put an end to the magic flares, your majesty,” Twilight Sparkle said, curtseying before the Penguin Emperor. Behind her, also curtseying, was her apprentice, Sweetie Belle. “And thank Celestia for me when you have the chance,” the emperor said, stroking his beak. “Without you, the magic fountains would have torn apart this part of Antrotica and the Empire of Iceflonia would have been in great peril. We have no magic of our own, so we are ever grateful that our friends in Canterlot would send their greatest mage to assist. Go now, with our eternal gratitude, Duchess Shetland.” As Twilight rose and departed the throne room, Sweetie Belle caught up to her. “Wow – that was some kind of adventure, Twilight! Thanks for taking me with you.” “I promised Rarity I’d take you under my metaphorical wing,” Twilight answered, “You’re still not technically at the stage yet that you’re supposed to have a mentor, but I’ve convinced the Archmagus to let me have an exception. I don’t know if it’ll happen, though: other ponies might be concerned about nepotism.” “Nepotism? Why that?” “Remember, the Bond applies to you as well, Sweetie. Technically, you and I are as much sisters royal as Rarity and I are.” “No offense to anypony else, Twilight,” Sweetie said, “but I don’t think I’d want to train under anypony else but you. Harmony Grass might be a nice stallion but he’s too strict for my tastes and Scarlet Satin keeps looking at me like she wants to put me in a saddle and socks.” Sweetie shivered at the thought. “Well, just keep up with your studies and earn the top slot in your class. Top slot does get to choose whomever he or she wants as a mentor,” Twilight said with a wink. “I’ll try, I promise,” Sweetie replied. While magic came naturally to her, she still struggled at regular scholastics. “That’s all I ask. So, since we’ll be back in Canterlot sooner than expected, what’s your plan for Harvesttide?” “Probably back home to Ponyville for the week. It’ll be good to see Mom and Dad again,” Sweetie answered. “And Pip?” Twilight teased. When Sweetie’s face became a shade of crimson, Twilight nuzzled the younger unicorn. “I’ll keep it a secret, Sweetie.” “Thanks, Twilight.” “Well, I still haven’t met that stallion of yours,” Magnum told his daughter the next day at lunch in Ponyville. “And you’ve been dating him for nearly a year now. If we come to Canterlot, should I expect him there?” Rarity rolled her eyes. “Considering that you and Mother have yet to come to Canterlot as you promised….” “Dear, you know that when your father caught strephoof, Dr. Stable told him he couldn’t go when he said we would, and I had to stay home to watch him,” Pearl added. “It’s not as though we wanted to miss spending time with you or Sweetie Belle.” “Besides, Canterlot isn’t big enough for that stallion of yours to hide,” Magnum said. “And if he thinks he’s going to get away with not meeting me until the day of the wedding….” “Father, he hasn’t asked me to marry him,” Rarity said. “So, what, is my little filly not good enough for him?” Rarity rolled her eyes. “We haven’t even been together for a year yet. Neither of us have really considered that step.” When her both of her parents gave her a flat, even stare, she amended her words to, “Well, he hasn’t considered that step, as far as I know.” “Then I believe it’s time I find out if he does plan to,” Magnum grunted. “Father….” Rarity realized she wasn’t getting anywhere with him, so she was going to have to break out her secret weapon. Looking at him coquettishly, she said in a tiny voice, “Daddy…don’t you trust me?” Like a charm, it worked: His stern gaze melted like butter in front of Celestia on a bad day. “Of course I do. You’re my little girl,” he said in the same sweet tones she remembered when she was nothing more than a little filly toiling away at her toy sewing machine in the hopes of earning her cutie mark. “Then it’s settled: you both will come up for Harvesttide dinner, and as Sky is inviting Uncle Topaz and his family, it will be good to have us all together again.” A thought crossed her mind: “I wonder if I should invite Silver Hammer and Sandalwood as well? That would be a wonderful way for all of us to meet.” “I have a suggestion as to whom you can invite,” Pearl spoke up. “What about your old mentor, Cardigan Sweater? She asked about you the other day when I ran into her in the marketplace.” Rarity immediately felt a crushing guilt. She hadn’t really talked much to her mentor since she’d become more and more involved with what would ultimately become her duties as a Knight Elemental. She considered Cardigan to be a very important part of her life, much as Celestia was to Twilight…but in the past few years, the two had talked very little. “You’re right, Mother,” Rarity said sadly. “I will visit her while I’m in town still and invite her.” “That’s a wonderful idea, Rarity!” Pearl said, smiling. “I’m so glad you thought of it.” Rarity sighed at her mother’s usual passive-aggressiveness and decided after lunch, she’d make the trip across town to Miss Cardigan’s. A few hours later, she found herself at an older but still well-kept home in one of the oldest parts of Ponyville. Rarity knew it well: to the left was the original road that led to Sweet Apple Acres until the current main road was built the year she’d moved into town. To the right was a park that used to be the site of the town’s first Town Hall, back when this was just a small hamlet offered to a bunch of settlers moving into the area. At the end of the cul-de-sac was the Rich family mansion; after she was done with her current visit, she’d have to schedule a quick visit to the Rich family to get a status report on her business as well as give them a progress report on Diamond’s apprenticeship. But first, the mentor has to be the apprentice, she thought to herself as she knocked on the door. To her surprise, a little filly, a pegasus answered the door. “Hello, can I help you?” “Yes, dear,” Rarity said. “I’m looking for Miss Cardigan Sweater.” “You’re looking for Momma?” the filly said, and Rarity held back her surprise at that. Cardigan adopted? I didn’t know that, which was immediately followed by the guilt that she didn’t know – and probably would have if she’d been more attentive. “Momma’s making lunch for me, Miss…?” “Rarity, dear,” Rarity replied, and the filly’s eyes opened wide as recognition suddenly seeped in. “Omigoshomigoshohmigosh! The Knight of Generosity! Here!” The filly squeed and before Rarity could say anything further, the pegasus pulled the door wide open and dragged Rarity in shouting at the top of her lungs, “MOMMA! ONE OF THE KNIGHTS IS HERE! IN OUR HOUSE! OMIGOSH I’M SO EXCITED!” The young filly began scampering around in circles before finally looking at Rarity and fired of a staccato of questions: “WhatareyoudoingherecanIhaveanautographisFluttershyreallynicecanIbeaKnightsomedaycanIgetanautographformyfriendstoodoyouwantsomethingtodrinkwhyareyouheretoseeMommacanIbringyoutoschoolwithmesoyoucantalktoallofusinMissCheerlieesclassisPrincessCelestianicemyfavoriteprincessisPrincessLunacanImeetFluttershysho—” “Bramble, dear, lunch is on the table. There will be more time to talk to our guest later,” a unicorn mare in her middle age said to the filly, gently petting her on the head and equally pushing her towards the kitchen with her tail. Getting the hint, the filly scampered off towards the kitchen as she sang back, “Don’t go anywhere, Miss Knight! You have to promise!” “She will, dear, she will,” the aged mare called back, before turning to face Rarity. “Bramblepatch is…rather excitable,” she apologized. “Most pegasi are diehard fans of your friend Rainbow Dash, so it’s rather interesting that Bramble’s so taken in by Fluttershy.” The mare stepped forward, embracing Rarity. “And it’s been too long since I’ve seen you, young Rarity. How you’ve been?” “Too long, Mistress,” Rarity replied sadly. “I’m sorry I haven’t been around as much as I should have been.” Cardigan waved it off. “You’re a busy mare, Rarity. You’ve gone places I couldn’t have even dreamed of and accomplished things that I could never have. I don’t have your talent in fashion or mercery – my talent has always been to be the artisan’s artisan, not a star. And besides,” she said, “after my last student, I felt it was time to retire, anyway and that’s when I found Bramble.” “Oh?” Rarity sensed there was a story there, and that thought was confirmed as Cardigan led her to the nearby couch. “Bramble was a foundling, abandoned on the edge of the Everfree.” “What?” Rarity made a note to notify both Shining Armor and Fluttershy soonest; the former for law enforcement reasons, and the latter in case other foals suffered the same fate – as Minister of Health and Family Services, Fluttershy’s dominion included the realm’s orphanages. “I know what you’re thinking, and I don’t blame you. But I found her parents shortly thereafter and they gave up their parental rights to me. They were a pair of destitute wanderers who made a mistake and didn’t intend to leave their foal at the edge of so dangerous a place. As my life was empty because of my retirement, I took Bramble in, adopted her and am giving her the kind of life she deserves, Rarity.” “That’s very generous of you, Mistress,” the younger unicorn said. “Coming from you, that’s quite the compliment, Generosity,” Cardigan said with a wink. “But you can’t have come just to complement me on becoming a parent.” “I wanted to invite you to come join us for Harvesttide at my home in Canterlot. I’m hoping to have my coltfriend there and to have him meet those important to me in the facets of life that he hasn’t met before. He’s come to know me well in the time we’ve been together, but I want to show him the sides of me that I don’t often reveal.” “E’er exposing thyself to the one of thine heart, for good or ill, in the hopes that dreams desired will become dreams fulfilled,” Cardigan said, finishing the quote. “You know, when I read you the poems of Sonnet Cycle as part of your apprenticeship, I never expected you to memorize them.” “It’s as you told me, Mistress,” Rarity said with a soft smile. “‘An untrained heart is a restrained one, and an educated heart is a passionate one. Keep ever the passion, and the talent will stay true.’ I’ve never forgotten that.” “Then I’m looking forward to telling those stories of the past to your dear stallion, and to hope he has the proclivity for poetry you do. I would hope you didn’t fancy some boorish, asinine mule of a pony who was all looks and no brains.” “No, thankfully I’ve been disabused of that notion.” The magical scroll appeared in a burst of azure flame and the scent of lavender, before gently falling onto the sofa beside Sandalwood, who was reading. “Well, it looks as though we’ve received a flamefax, dearest,” she called out to her husband. Silver Hammer poked his head into the dayroom as he passed. “Who is it from, dear?” Unfurling the scroll with a combination of hooves and mouth, she read the scroll briefly before summarizing for her husband. “Oh, it’s from Rarity. She and Silver are planning to have a Harvesttide dinner and they’ve invited us.” A sweet smile shone in her violet eyes. “Do you think that they’ll…?” “Probably not,” Hammer said, gruffly. “It’s probably just a chance for us to meet her family, not that there’s anything wrong with that – we should get to know them just in case.” Sandalwood pouted. “But dear, Diamondplate and Lavender got engaged almost a year to the day after they met.” “Yes, and they had a whirlwind romance – a once-in-a-lifetime event. But Silver’s still somewhat reserved over his relationship with Derpy, and I think he’s taking it easy for the sake of our granddaughters,” Hammer pointed out. “Besides, even we didn’t consider marriage until three years into our relationship, so let’s allow our foals to figure it out for themselves.” “A mare can dream, can’t she?” she said, laughing breezily as she went to the nearby armoire to get flamefax stationary to reply back to Rarity. Of course they would attend; for a chance like this, they could hardly say no. Sparkler read the note again before looking at her mother. “Are you sure you’re okay with this, Mom?” Derpy nodded. “It’s fine, muffin. Besides, you should spend more time with your father and Miss Rarity. I’ll miss you and Dinky both, but I’ll be with your grandparents, so I won’t be lonely. Besides,” she sighed, “somepony will probably have to play peacemaker between your aunt and your uncle and take care of your cousins, so maybe it’s for the best.” “Well, if you’re sure….” Sparkler said, both concerned for her mother and glad that she’d be able to see her father again. She hadn’t seen him since he’d went out on deployment a few weeks back and considering they were hunting for some “troublemakers”, as he’d termed it, she was more than a little bit worried. Derpy reached up and mussed her daughter’s hair, then embraced her in a winghug. “I’ll be fine, Sparky. You and your sister should go have fun. Besides, I can ride the train into Canterlot with you and then fly northwest to Pransing from there.” “Maybe Miss Rarity can let you ride in her chariot?” Dinky asked. When Derpy looked oddly at her younger daughter, Sparkler explained that in the letter, Rarity was arranging for the girls to be picked up by chariot and brought to the house. Without even waiting for an answer, Dinky turned to Sparkler and said, “Ask Miss Rarity if she can have her pegasuses—” “Pegasi, Dinks,” Sparkler gently corrected. “—escrots,” Dinky ambled on without stopping, “take Mom to Pransing.” “Muffin, as much as I would appreciate that, it wouldn’t be fair to the guards. After all, they have families of their own and they should be able to celebrate Harvesttide too, right?” “I guess….” Dinky pawed the ground in clear disappointment before her eyes lit up with an idea. “Well, why can’t Mom come with us?” “Dinky, that’d be a really bad idea,” both Derpy and Sparkler said in unison. As the airship pulled up to the pier, Silver could see Rarity waiting there for him along with the other spouses awaiting the return of their loved ones. The moment the two made eye contact, she blew him a kiss, and he pantomimed catching it and holding it close to his heart. The troops around him chuckled at the pure hamminess of the action, but not a one of the ponies there was about to hold it against him. As the fleetponies took their time tying the ship up to the pier, both paramours waited anxiously while the ship’s crew finished up their last-minute berthing and anchor detail before the ship’s gangplank went up. As dozens of guardponies finally boiled off the ship, Silver had to pretty much rely on their military bearing to get them back into order. “Okay, troops, we’re finally back. For those of you on duty, assume watch stations. Those of you who aren’t, you’re getting a week’s break, save for those who have to report in for watchstanding. After that, then we’ll figure out plans for the Harvesttide, Hearths Warming and New Year’s holiday period. Dismissed.” As the guards broke away, Rarity excitedly raced towards her stallion, all but leaping into his forelegs for a welcome kiss. “I’ve missed you, love,” she said as she broke the kiss. “You’ve no idea how much of a lonely time it’s been without you, dearest.” “I can imagine,” he said with a chuckle. “It’s been somewhat of a hectic few weeks on my end, having to hunt down this mysterious army that appeared out of nowhere and disappeared just as quickly.” “I thought that was a normal guard function, not a concern for anti-changeling units,” Rarity inquired. “Well, when a group that size disappears into the background, it makes you wonder,” he said, without clarifying further. But he shrugged it off and said, “Enough of that. I’ve got the week off and I’ve got all that time to spend with you before I head home to my parents’ place for Harvesttide.” A thought came to him and he said, “I don’t suppose I could convince you to come to the manor? I know my parents would love to see you again.” “Oh, that’s been taken care of, dear,” she said, playfully rolling her eyes skyward as they left the pier. Silver had the idea instantly. “You didn’t.” “Of course I did,” she said with a wink. “For that matter, I also invited my parents, my old mentor and Sky invited her parents and brother as well. It’s going to be a full house for Harvesttide, and a good chance to showcase my cooking skills, though I may see if I can have Pinkie whip up some holiday-appropriate desserts.” “Well, this should prove interesting. I get to finally meet your father. Should I have artillery on standby, or will just the duty staff in full barding suffice?” “Oh, you’ll be fine, dear. My father’s a pushover.” Silver rolled his eyes. “Your father, according to you and Sweetie, is also a retired hoofball player who keeps in shape and is still extremely muscular and powerful for a unicorn, which would put him at the average build for an earth pony,” he noted. “Dear, I think you’re a little too worried. We have two weeks to prepare for Harvesttide, and I’ll need your help finding a suitable tempeh loaf for the family – I’m wondering if I should get two – as well as helping me figure out what the meal plans are.” “Isn’t that the hostess’ job?” She shook her head in that so-so way that she knew always caught his attention. “No, dear, it’s the duty of the host family. And like it or not, as I am a single mare, you’re the closest thing I have to the other half of the equation in this, so you’ll be helping me with everything. Besides,” she added, to drive home the point, “I could always ask Sweetie for assistance….” He blanched immediately. He still remembered the day that Sweetie had made breakfast in bed for him and Rarity; it had taken a month to clean the stains off the ceiling and remove the stench of burnt orange juice and Celestia-knew-whatever-else was in the younger mare’s concoction…and that last only with liberal application of purification spells from both Sweetie and Twilight. Factor in Sweetie’s somewhat embarrassed admission that she used to be much worse at cooking – if that was somehow actually possible – and Silver knew his fillyfriend’s threat was indeed a valid one. “I think I can help put together a meal plan,” he said softly. She kissed him on the cheek. “It’s good to have you home, love.” The two weeks of planning went by without a hitch. Sweetie, somewhat relieved to not have to cook, offered to help with the decorations, as those could be accomplished via magic and without her having to step anywhere near the kitchen. Sky, who could help, thought it was best to assist with the decorations as well so her cousin didn’t have to do all the heavy lifting. That left both Rarity and Silver in the kitchen, trying to come up with ideas. And that’s when the hitches started to pile up like a ten-hitch wreck on the main highway leading to Ponyville. Rhythmically tapping a pencil against her cheek in thought, Rarity sighed. “Well, I guess there goes the rose and dandelion casserole,” she sighed. “I’d forgotten that Uncle Topaz is allergic to dandelions.” “That’s going to be a shame. My mother absolutely loves dandelions,” Silver said. “She’d probably go nuts if we didn’t have a rose and dandelion casserole – it’s a family tradition with us. Maybe I can come up with something in addition for your uncle?” Sky, having come into the kitchen to get something to drink for her and Sweetie, said, “Well, my dad’s fond of pinecone and almond goulash. Maybe that’s something we can do?” “Sky, that sounds great. If you’ve got a recipe, I can do that that,” Silver replied. “I’ll see what I can dig up for you,” she said as a knock sounded by the door. “I’ll get it!” Sweetie Belle shouted from the other room, followed in a few seconds later by, “Hey, Sparkler and Dinky are here!” Anything else the teenaged unicorn mage said was drowned out as two other unicorns scampered into the house and into the kitchen. “Daddy!” Dinky said, aiming straight for his foreleg, a specialty of her glomping technique. “Can I help make the cake for Harvesttide? Can I help with the decorations? Are we staying here or at your apartment? Do you think the weather pegasuses will schedule snow? Are you going to make any desserts? Can I have a cookie right now?” A second later, Sparkler came in and embraced her father as well. “Heya, Dad, Miss Rarity,” she said, embracing both stallion and mare in turn. “Mom says to thank you for having your chariot take her to Pransing.” “Oh, that’s quite all right, dear,” Rarity said, as Dinky detached from her father long enough to engage a death-grip of love onto Rarity’s leg. “A couple members of the palace guard are from Pransing, so it was no problem to let them go provided they performed a public service for a long-time Crown representative.” “Still,” Sparkler said, her horn lighting with magic, “Mom wanted to send along this as a token of thanks.” A second later the magic released, and a basket of chocolate raspberry muffins appeared in its place. “Fresh as can be from the oven – and Mom really had to restrain herself from taking any.” Rarity nodded in gratitude as she accepted the gift; while the stories about Derpy and muffins were slightly exaggerated, it was very true that the pegasus would do a lot for her favorite foodstuff. “Sparkler, be a dear and put them in the pantry for the moment? We can have them for breakfast tomorrow.” “Sure. Anything that I can do to help?” “Well, we could use a hoof or two setting up the decorations and such,” Sky said, and with that, both Sparkler and Dinky followed the pegasus out of the kitchen, leaving both Rarity and Silver alone once more. “It’ll be good to have the girls here,” Rarity said. “With my younger cousin Persian Onion being here and Mistress Cardigan’s daughter Bramble as well, that should be enough foals to keep Dinky out of relative trouble. Besides, I’m more than sure they’ll find wholly new ways to cause entirely too much mischief without our assistance.” He kissed her on the cheek. “In that case, I’d better go to the store before they run out of pinecones – surprisingly, they’re hard to get this time of year. Anything else you want me to pick up while I’m out?” Dinky fidgeted in her dress. “Do I hafta wear this?” she asked. “Yes, you do,” Sparkler told her, dressed in her own attire. “We’re the hosting family, so we have to look nice for Dad and Miss Rarity’s sake, okay?” “But Mom doesn’t make us wear clothing for Harvesttide!” Dinky insisted. Silver went over and picked up his youngest daughter. “Sweetie, you’re supposed to be the prettiest little filly here, okay? Besides, Rarity worked hard on that dress just for you – nopony else gets to wear anything that special,” he said, nuzzling her. She giggled. “Okay, Daddy,” she said, kissing him. “I’ll wear it.” Looking at Rarity, Sparkler said, “I know it’s hard to get it out of her, but thanks for the dresses, Miss Rarity. I really do like mine and I’m sure Dinky will as well once she gets used to it.” Rarity gave the younger unicorn a glowing smile. “I’m glad you like it, dear. I had to guess at measurements since the last time I saw you, so I’m glad you aren’t in a growth spurt or else that would have been somewhat awkward.” Sparkler then looked at her father, who was currently in a suit and tie. “I’m impressed: you got Dad to wear something formal that wasn’t his dress uniform.” “Well,” Rarity said thoughtfully, “I had to explain to him that this wasn’t a military exercise, but it helped to dress nicely. Ultimately, he sat down patiently with Diamond while she made him the suit and tie, which I thought was nice.” A second later, she admitted, “Plus, he is meeting my parents for the first time today, so I thought that having us dress nicely together made us look like a family, which will help in Father’s opinion of him.” “He’s never met your parents?” “No, dear. The first time we were in Ponyville, we were there because your mother was attacked. And the second time was to see Dinky’s school play, but my parents were out of town on business. Since then, things have been so busy that nopony’s had time to schedule a lunch or dinner together, and this was the first opportunity I had.” She shook her head. “I just hope that Father won’t be too envious.” “Envious? Why? Dad’s lucky to get a mare like you, Miss Rarity.” “You’re too kind, Sparkler, dear. But what I meant was that it seems that all fathers are very protective of their daughters. I don’t doubt that when it comes time for you to meet your first date, your father will be standing there with every weapon in his arsenal to get his point across to treat you well.” The door opened and Sky came in, looking somewhat harried. “Okay, going to head upstairs and take a quick shower, then get dressed. Rares, my parents’ airship just docked, so they should be here in thirty. The train from Ponyville will arrive in ten minutes, so I’m assuming they’ll be here in thirty minutes as well; Sweetie’s going to bring them over.” Heading for the stairs, she said, “Oh, and thanks for the dress! I know you didn’t say anything, but knowing you, you made one regardless!” “Well, that’s that….” Rarity said, nervousness creeping into her tones. “I suppose I should check the spare bedrooms to see if they were equipped properly. And then there’s to make sure that the accompaniments are prepared, and that the temperature of the house is per—” Silver silenced it with a kiss and a caress to her face. “You’ll be fine, Rarity. Things will be great, so there’s no need to be nervous.” “That’s what you think,” she said, feeling somewhat squeamish. “Uncle Topaz! Aunt Periwinkle! And little Persian! How are you three?” The moment the doorbell rang and Rarity went to answer it, all nervousness faded away as she moved into her element, metaphorically speaking. Greeting her three family members with the ease of somepony who hadn’t seen them in a while (as she hadn’t), she went and embraced the three of them in turn. “Heeeeey! Lookin’ snazzy, Rarity!” Topaz said, giving his niece a wink and a hug. As always when greeting her uncle, she tried not to gag; his preference for wearing plaid blazers with striped ties gave him a disjointed, unfashionable look, an appearance not helped in the least by the squarish black eyeglasses he wore. His mustard-yellow coat and aqua mane also gave her a headache, from an artisan’s standpoint. But he was one of the kindest stallions she knew and it had been a number of the spells in his given trade, lapidimancy, that had helped her career over the years. “This is a beautiful place, Rarity. You should be proud.” Contrasting with her husband, Periwinkle nuzzled her niece, smiling. The violet-blue-hued pegasus with the soft white mane looked at the house appreciatively. “Must have cost a fortune, but you’re more than worth it.” Rarity gave her aunt a grin; the cultured florist had helped a young Rarity with color theory and had been an inspiration to the young unicorn. “Wowowowow! Heya cuz! This place is cool!” Persian Onion was next. An excitable little colt, he quickly hugged his cousin and then immediately made a beeline to Dinky, who was the same age as he was. Immediately the two started chasing each other around the foyer of the house, and then immediately up the stairs. “Dinky! Get back here!” Sparkler shouted as her sister, followed by the young colt, bounded up towards the second floor. She sighed. “I’ll take care of this, Miss Rarity. You and Dad can just leave it to me.” “No, I’ll take care of it, Sparkler. You stay here with your father, as Rares’ parents’ll be here any minute.” Sky immediately flew up the stairs, chasing after her brother and Dinky before the two foals got into any mischief. The answer to that came a few seconds later as a knock came at the door. Rarity opened it again, finding Sweetie standing there, a wide grin on her face. “Is Silver ready to face the music?” she asked, a mischievous grin plastered on her young face. “What did you tell Mother and Father?” she mock-scolded her sister as they embraced. “Nothing at all,” Sweetie replied. “I don’t think I could invent anything anywhere near as bad as what Dad has in his head. Plus, you just know that with Uncle Topaz here, they’re probably going to both gang up on Silver.” As the broke the embrace, Sweetie patted her sister on the withers. “I just want you to know that I’m here for you during this trying time and I love you, okay?” “Great, now I really am worried,” Rarity half-joked, to which Sweetie then stuck her tongue out at her sister. A second later, Magnum and Pearl stood at the doorway, followed closely by Cardigan Sweater and Bramblepatch. Sparkler, already sensing what was going to happen, quickly had the young pegasus filly say her hellos to everypony and squee over Rarity for a few seconds before she took the overexcited foal to play with Dinky and Persian. The moment he entered, Magnum didn’t say a word to his daughter. Instead, he walked straight up to Silver and eyed the stallion carefully. Though extremely large and bulky for a unicorn stallion, Magnum wasn’t quite eye-to-eye with his target of choice. As a result, the earth pony stallion looked just slightly down at Rarity’s father as the two locked stares. “So…you’re the stallion after my little filly,” Magnum said, evenly, his speech vibrating his mustache ever so slightly. “No, I’m the stallion dating your daughter Rarity,” Silver said. “As much as I do think your younger daughter is quite fetching, she’s not my type and she’s a little too young for me.” Magnum’s eyes narrowed. “Oh, so a wisenheimer, huh?” A slight smile cracked on Silver’s face, not big enough for the others to notice, but just enough for Rarity to see it on his face. “I like to think so, yes.” Without warning, Magnum cocked a forehoof back and then thrust forward. Thinking just as quickly, Silver matched the move instantly and the two hoofs connected in a hoofbump, the two stallions putting their muscle into it, either vying for dominance or trying to show their primacy in the most infantile manner possible. “Nice to meet you,” Magnum said. He didn’t sound as though he meant it. “A pleasure, likewise,” Silver responded. His reply appeared equally lacking in conviction. Pearl, Cardigan, Sweetie and Rarity watched as the two stallions sized up one another: Magnum continued to put more muscle into it, determined to see if this was the right stallion for his daughter through mere strength alone. While Silver knew he could put far more strength behind it than he needed to – he was an earth pony, after all – he decided to match Magnum hoofpound-for-hoofpound as to not embarrass Rarity’s father. So as a result, as the third minute of the two staring at each other and putting increasing strength into a battle royale of hoofbumps, the four mares were at a loss whether or not to laugh or shake their heads in disgust. “I’m sorry, dear,” Pearl apologized to Rarity. “You’re father’s usually more…sensible?” “Stallions are always the same, Pearl, darling,” Cardigan explained it away, “and fathers even more so. If you think he’s this bad now, just wait until it’s Sweetie’s time to date. It will be that much worse then.” Rarity immediately decided to shut up about Sweetie’s current dating situation, while the teen decided she owed her sister the favor of the alicorns just for not mortifying her at that moment. Fortunately at that moment, Topaz decided to intervene. “Colts, colts, c’mon: let the ladies in the house, and close the door – you’re lettin’ in the draft. You two wanna settle this like stallions?” There was a wicked gleam in his eyes. “Rarity, you gotta pool table here?” “Uh, I hadn’t quite set up an entertainment parlor yet, Uncle Topaz,” she admitted, “but….” She turned and looked at Sweetie Belle evenly. “Yeah, let me go find a large enough empty room,” she sighed, muttering under her breath, “I knew somehow Twilight was going to assign me homework, but I didn’t think it’d be this way….” “Down the corridor, last room on the left,” Rarity pointed helpfully. “Feel free to make whatever else you think needs to go in there as well.” “Sure, but I’m sending you the bill….” Sweetie grumbled as she headed down the hall. “Relax, dear,” Pearl told her daughter a half-hour later as the older mares helped Rarity in the kitchen with dinner preparations. Sky and Sparkler were still watching the foals, and Sweetie bounded in and out twice to get something to snack on as she was using up her magic in virtually building an entertainment room for her sister. “If your father truly disliked Silver, it would be much worse.” “How much worse?” Rarity said. “Father’s practically acting like a jack playing conquest over the attentions of some jenny.” “Well, in fairness, Rarity,” Periwinkle said as she stirred a bowl in preparation for a cake, “your stallion could have easily backed down.” “Not likely, Periwinkle,” Cardigan pointed out. “My experience with alpha stallions like those two is that they’re going to keep going until one or the other bends. Magnum is a proud stallion, and quite so: he’s accomplished a lot in his life. But from what I can tell – and please correct me if I’m wrong, Rarity – Silver has the look of a guardstallion about him and the military doesn’t exactly breed wallflowers.” “No, you’re quite co—” The white unicorn was interrupted by the sound of the doorbell. “I think I should go get that, if you’ll excuse me, ladies.” “Would you like me to come with you, dear?” Pearl asked. “You look a bit frazzled.” “Is it showing that much?” Rarity asked, a wild look in her eyes. “No, dear,” Pearl said diplomatically, “but a mother knows her foal.” The two mares went to the door, opening it and finding both Sandalwood and Hammer standing there. At once Rarity and Sandalwood greeted one another like old friends, the two smiling happily. “I brought a little something for the home, Rarity; I hope you like it,” Sandalwood said, smiling softly. “Thank you,” Rarity said, looking at the lovely crystalline flower vase and wondering where to put it. “And Hammer! So good to see you.” For once, she noted, he was out of military attire and dressed in a suit and tie, just as her own Silver was; she presumed that family habits apparently died hard for them. “If you’ll follow me to the game parlor, you’ll see your son and my father trying not to pound each other into the carpetin…I mean, they’re getting along fabulously,” she said with a forced laugh that sounded both clearly faked and just to the right of neurotic. “Don’t worry,” he said with a wink. “I know how this works, Rarity.” “You do?” She felt a bit of hope rise into her chest… He nodded. “And I know that my presence will only make this that much worse. So, lead me to the battlefield!” …and the hope sank like a stone tossed into Lake Ponyville. Meanwhile, Sandalwood looked at Pearl and said with the knowledge that only one mother could say to another, “How bad is it?” “My husband and your son seem to be in a proxy war with one another over Rarity,” Pearl said sweetly. “Once we got the hoofbumping exercise out of the way, we exiled them to the game parlor where my brother is watching them as they either play billiards or proceed to joust at each other with the pool cues.” “I see,” Sandalwood said evenly before breaking into a wide smile. “So, what do you think the grandfoals’ names will be?” Once she was done adding the final dartboard, Sweetie ran from the room as fast as she could. The stallionfolk had initially kept to quiet warfare because of their presence, but it was clear that as Magnum and Silver continued their test of wills, that any sense of propriety was headed straight out the window – likely defenestrated out said portal. Worse, every attempt that Topaz had made to try to inject some sense of placidity into the situation only made it that much worse, and a simple game of billiards was now turning into ballistic warfare. As she reached the door, she’d had to put up a hastily-prepared force field, hoping for some chance to survive. So focused on survival, she didn’t notice that she’d run straight into Silver Hammer. “Hey there, little miss, is something the matter?” “Only if outright warfare is your idea of fun!” Sweetie moaned. Hammer chuckled. “Ah, that kind of day.” A pool ball came towards him, and without even taking his attention off her, he reached up and caught it with a deft move of a hoof. “Let me take care of this, young miss. By the way, are my granddaughters here? I haven’t seen them in a while.” Sweetie looked at the amazing catch for just a second, blinking as if completely stupefied. He nodded, as if that was an answer. “Please let Sparkler and Firecracker know that as soon as I’m done here, I’ll go see them. A grandfather should always pay attention to his little fillies, correct?” Sweetie, finally grabbing some presence of mind, merely nodded, trying not to make a further fool of herself. “Well, then, let me take care of this. Please do close the door on the way out, and I promise we’ll try not to break too many things – I wouldn’t want Rarity to be disappointed in me.” As she departed the room, she tried not to pay attention to the sudden shouts or banging that was occurring behind the closed door. The only thing on her mind was I wonder if Twilight would mind if I suddenly showed up at her parents’ place and had Harvesttide dinner with them? It was probably the safer thing to do. Even safer was heading back to her dorm room at the Academy, barricading herself in and not coming out until the Harvesttide vacation period was over. “Hey, Sweetie, you okay?” Sparkler approached her, a smile on her face. “I thought you could use some company – Miss Rarity says you were looking a little bit out of sorts.” “You have no idea, Sparkler,” she said. “Do me a favor: if Rarity and Silver get married? Don’t ask me to be in the line of fire when you finally bring a colt of your own home. I’m already going to need a psychiatric evaluation after this Harvesttide and I don’t think I could survive another.” “Um…aren’t you dating already?” Sparkler asked. Sweetie facehoofed. “Buck my life.” Finally, after a couple of hours of the mares cooking, the stallions…doing whatever stallions did while the mares were cooking, and the foals playing to the point of exhaustion, the group sat down before the table ready to eat. A drink of cider in her hoof – thankfully Applejack had sent over a cask of her first batch of the Sweet Apple Acres’ Harvesttide Premium Non-Alcoholic – she looked at the ponies in front of her, her extended family, close friends and those who could become a part of her family in the near future. She stood up to deliver the Harvesttide toast, looking warmly at the stallion of her heart, who was sitting down next to her. Smiling radiantly, she said, “Thank you all for coming. This is,” she admitted, feeling a bit flustered, “a special moment in my life, and I’m glad to have somepony – all of you – to share it with. When I was just a small foal growing up in Maneapolis, I never thought I’d see this point. Spending time with my parents and having my uncle and aunt nearby,” she said, nodding to Topaz and Periwinkle, “I never saw what they first knew: that my life would be counted as special. And the day I got my cutie mark, I knew that they were right.” “You also scared the heck out of us,” Pearl recalled. “We panicked about what happened to you for days only to find out that your magic spell dragged you out to the badlands for rare gems? Nopony but my dear filly could have done that.” “It was my aunt and my mother who contacted their old friend Cardigan,” she added, as she looked fondly at her mentor, “who took me under her horn and taught me so much about my art and skill, and it is because of her that I began to become the pony that I was, and for that, I am eternally grateful.” “It was always you, dear,” Cardigan said warmly. “A cardinal gem can only be polished, not created. The gem must exist, regardless.” “And now, through a few years of changes in my life, here I am, a duchess, a Knight and a sister royal. But I would be nothing without all of you. And it’s a hope that I can continue to rely on those here, including those who I’ve invited into my life,” she said, looking lovingly at Silver. “Always, my love,” he told her warmly. “Always.” “So with us all together,” she spoke, raising the glass of cider, “let us enjoy this Harvesttide together. Cheers!” “Cheers!” all said as one, clinking the glasses together, drinking and smiling as they began to eat and chat. Rarity sighed as she slumped in her seat, glad that despite all the pain, the dinner was going well and nothing could go wrong no— SPLAT “Whoopsie.” Persian looked at Dinky, who now wore mashed turnips on her face. “I made a mista—” The colt never finished the sentence, as Dinky magicked over a spoonful of rose-and-almond goulash right into his face and started laughing. “You look silly, Persian!” Dinky said, only to quickly duck as Persian fired an intentional volley. The payload of quinoa and cranberries splashed straight onto Sandalwood’s face, and the sweet earth pony mare smiled impishly. Things went downhill from that point, as food started flying everywhere and both sides started a food fight. Whether it was the stress of Magnum and Silver’s first meeting, the need for both potential in-laws to impress one another or general holiday anxiety, it didn’t matter. What only mattered was that the flying foodstuffs made for great tension relief, and that some of the stains were probably going to not going to come out of the walls very easily. As a slice of roast tempeh and gravy splattered against the side of her face, Rarity did exactly what Applejack suggested. Reaching down to grab a small bottle she placed by her chair, she looked at the note, still attached to it. Rarity, In case you need it – and I’m betting you will. Your pal always, - AJ Opening the bottle of Sweet Apple Acres Harvesttide Double-Barrel Alcoholic Cider, she drank the whole bottle in one go. Her Harvesttide might have been ruined, but at least she’d be too drunk to care at that point. “Well…that was interesting,” Silver said as he helped Rarity clean up the house hours later. It was two in the morning and the pair was still picking up the wreckage of what had been the planned dinner, along with what they’d actually ended up eating when everything died down. “I guess we should be glad that Beet O’ Brady’s does a special holiday takeout?” His joke was met with silence and he knew what that meant. She looked at him, crying. “Everything was ruined! I’d tried so hard to come up with something special for all of us – something to impress us all – and in the end, I embarrassed myself and everypony!” she wailed. “Small wonder that everypony ate and then headed straight to bed! They’re too embarrassed to see me!” He shook his head. “Actually, hon, I asked them to – to leave us time together to clean everything up by ourselves.” “Are you insane?” she gasped. “I had plum-colored walls in the dining room this morning! Now they’re stained pea-green!” He chuckled. “Glad to see you still have your sense of fashion about you; I thought it was more of a spinach green, myself.” “Silver….” He set down the broom and walked up to her, kissing her. “I don’t know about you, but I had fun tonight. Your dad…I think this finally got him to unwind. And I don’t know about your family, but I can tell you my mother absolutely enjoyed letting her mane down, because she hates formal Harvesttide dinners. There was this full seven-course dinner my aunt held a few years back, an event so ridiculously stuffed-shirt that my mother eventually blew her fuse after the fourth course. I swear, when Aunt Cedarwood finally managed to escape Mom’s verbal explosion, she looked as though she’d been at a ringside seat at an ursa major rampage. Derpy actually had to take my mother out to the balcony for about ten minutes just to calm her down. “But this, hon? This was fun. Granted, I don’t think we should ever do this again, but all in all? It was a great way to introduce my family to yours.” She blushed. “You…you really think so?” In response, he took one of the remaining intact crème puffs and gently smushed it into her muzzle, then kissed her through the crème. “Have I ever told you how good you look in pastry?” he said. She couldn’t help but laugh.